Everglades National Park

Join Diego the dolphin, Peter the panther and Aleesha the alligator in exploring three South Florida parks (Big Cypress National Preserve, and Biscayne and Everglades National Park). Pick up a booklet at any park visitor center and complete the required activities to earn a badge. Complete the entire book and earn three badges plus an exclusive South Florida junior ranger patch!

Explore the everglades by biking the 15-mile (24 km) Shark Valley Tram Road. Along the way you can experience the wide array of wildlife, diverse freshwater ecosystems, and get a unique view of the Everglades!

The Anhinga Trail is a popular place to start your exploration at Everglades National Park, providing a ready sample of wetland wildlife including alligators, turtles, fish, plants, and birds, all along a short, three-quarter mile paved and boardwalk trail.

Flamingo offers ample birding opportunities along its many trail areas as well as around the visitor center and marina. The mix of mangrove and coastal prairie habitats host a bounty of wading birds, shorebirds and waterbirds throughout the year. Additionally, there is always the chance of seeing tropical marine life close to shore, including crocodiles and manatees.

Snake Bight Trail can be walked any time of year, but is easiest to walk in the winter when mosquitoes are not abundant. This trail offers the opportunity to see birds restricted to coastal habitats, including Reddish Egret. Other species of shorebirds such as Greater Yellowlegs, Black-necked Stilt, Black-bellied Plover and various other sandpipers can also be found. Shorebirds are most easily observed during high tide when water forces birds off mudflats farther out on Flori

One third of Everglades National Park is covered by water, creating excellent boating and fishing opportunities! Snapper, sea trout, redfish, bass, and bluegill are plentiful. Saltwater fishing includes Florida Bay, the Ten Thousand Islands, and elsewhere in the park's coastal zone.

Flamingo is the launching point for water excursions into Everglades National Park. Whitewater Bay and Florida Bay offer abundant wildlife and a chance to visit the parts of the Everglades only accessible by boat.

Exploring the Shark Valley area by tram is a great way to see and learn about the wildlife and hisotry of Everglades National Park. Guided two-hour tram tours are offered along a fifteen-mile loop trail into the "River of Grass". The open air trams allow for abundant wildlife viewing opportunitys, and stop at the Shark valley Observation tower for a bird's eye view of the sweeping Everglades ecosystem. Tours depart from the Shark Valley Visitor Center located along U.S. H

Experience the natural beauty of Everglades National Park's Ten Thousand Islands with a boat tour on Chokoloskee Bay.